The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-05
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The Barrett Wage Bill in the Interest OF
Employees Passed by the Senate.
Railroad Transportation Discussed-The Dem
ocrats Agrain Try to Make the House
Journal Suit Their Purposes.

The Democrats of the Ho use were not content
yesterday to let action rest on the futile efforts
Of Representatives Kellison-and Jewett to make
the record of the joint convention of Wednesday
read in the interest of the alleged election OF
David Turpie as United States Senator, In the
reading of the House journal for Thursday Rep
resentative Kellson claimed that it was incor-
rect as it did not contain the paper he offered as
substitute for the record of Wednesdays joint
convention. It was an attempt to have it record
ed in full as part of the House proceedings OF
Thursday. This was resisted as being contrary
to al! practice The journal showed that an
Amendment, which was in the nature or a sub
Bttute, had been offered By Representative Kel
lison, and that the House voted it down. 1t was
also recorded that Representative Jewett had
made motion to similar effect, Which failed
But this did not satisfy the Democrats, who pur-
sued their course Of assertions and claims of the
day before. until Representative Gardiner came
across their path with statement that the
Democratic position was not consistent. On the
other side of the Capitol, where that party had
majority, attempt to correct the
Senate record in accordance with the
fact that Speaker Sayre, the presiding
officer of the convention, had declared there was
no election Of Senator, failed. But in the House
they asked for an insertion in the record of
called declaration by Senator Smith, which no.
body heard and which nobody but Democrats be-
iieved was made Assuming that it had been
made, Senator Smith had right to declare the
effect of the vote since neither the law nor the
agreement gave him the powers of presiding
pfficer. Speaker Sayre said that what KEEP
-$esentative kellison and others sought to
effect related only-sto matter of prac-
tice. 1t was not the custom to make
the journal of the House complete by reciting
a
that were offered and on which action was taken.
These papers were flied, as Representative Kel-
isons virtual substitute for the journal had been
among the documents of the House He decided
the motion TO have the journal detail word for,
word the matter o. that substitute out of
order.
The discussion on the Jewett bill, regulating
the transportation of property by railroad com
panies and other common carriers, which was
called up as the special order, was not very ami
mated. Members, however, felt that it was their
last chance to give expressions to their
views, as the bill is ready for final action.
Only two three opposed the measure, and
those favoring it confined their remarks to dis
parity in local and through rates at their imme
diate towns and cities. The opponents rested on
the claim that such a law would cause hard
ship to farmers in preventing them from get
ting cheaply to market. After hours talk
the Representatives evinced a desire to adjourn
p motion to that effect prevailing. A vote on
the bill will not be reached until Monday morn
ing, to which time the adjourn ment extends.
Its provisions are that it shall be unlawful for
any company or persons operating railroads in
the State to charge, directly or indirectly. any
greater Or less rate TO one person more than
another, and thas all charges shall not be at
greater rate per mile than may or hereafter
lawfully be charged under substantially similar
circumstances and conditions for transporting
property from points within to points without
The State. All facilities for the carriage and
Caring for property to- be transported and deliv-
Erred shall be furnished without discrimin alton.
NO break. stopp-ge. Interruptions, any con-
tract sh.ii be made a prevent the cor
slase OF any propert being M,1s trea. -a
Eection makes it unlawful for any
persons engaged in end controlling such trans
portation service to enter into any combination,
contract or agreement by changes of schedule
carriage in different cars or by any other means
with intent TO prevent the carriage of such prop
erty from being continuous from the place of
Rhipment to the place of destination. whether
carried on one or several railroads: and 1t shall
be unlawful for any person or persons carrying
property as aforesaid to enter into any contract,
agreement or combination for the pooling of
freights, or to pool the freghts of different and
competing railroads by dividing between them
the aggregate or net proceeds of the earnings Of
such railroads, or any portion of them; and in
any case of an agreement for the pooling of
freights or earnings as aforesaid each day of it's
Continuance shall be deemed a separate offense
Section prohibits any rebate, drawback or
pther advantage, in any form, upon shipments
made or services rendered as aforesaid, by him
first causing such to be uncoupled and de-
tached from every other car. Violations of the
provisions of the bill are to be- treated as misde-
meanors. for which, on conviction, fine of not
more than 5000 can be assessed. The last sec
lion provides for the recovery of damages by
any person who shall sustain loss through any
Tiolation of the requirements of the bill.
The Barrett bill concerning the security and
payment of employees was passed by the Senate
yesterday 1t had been subjected to amend
ment, not through any purpose to defeat it, fol-
the Senators from the first, without regard te
party, have regarded it with no other view thar
That Of favorable action. The provisions of the
bill have been given, and since then no material
amendment thereto has been perfected, except
IN the section relating to the lien for wages the
employe may secure on all property of the en-
ployer. AS amended and passed this section
provides that suit shall DE brought to enforce
such lien after six months from the time sucl
labor performed. 1t has been the Demo
cratic aim to prsempt the introduction of meas
pres that are supposed to meet the wishes o.
workingmen, bur SO apparent has been the low
grade of demagoeuery in the haste of Demo
cratic Senators to do this, as we'll as in the
speeches, that the insincerity of their motives
was stripped of nearly every vestige of disguise
There was no necessity for Senators Barrett
Mcdonald and others Of their political afiliatior
to become rampant in appeals for labor, but
they did it. and that, too, with pretensions NOR,
amusing than interesting, in the light of Ger
tain personal reflections by organized labor
during the last campaign. Senator Melon
aid no doubt recalled them as he
etood declaiming both for capital and labor
which he regarded went hand in hand. But th'
@orkinemen demanded such legislation, ha said
rs the Barrett. bill seeks to give, and he was il
favor Of it, from the first section to the last OF
fhat account He went out of his way, as die
other Democratic speakers. to falsely arraigr
the Republican party the enemy of labor
They gave as designed by them, poltica
flavor to the discussion. Senator Huston met
this unwarranted turn of the question by saying
that M Republican party had been and is tn
noblest champion of labor the world ever pre-
duced. He talked to the Senate. not to the gal
leries, and while the bill would not affect tn
factories Of his town and its neighborhood a
there payments were made every Monday. Their
rvas No douhf darna nd for IT in the minin